Entry Draft Discussions

This is the kind of draft that teams build their future on, as many scouts and staff members of teams’ player personelles have said. This is a deep draft, a lot of talent with future players that will help teams succeed in the future. You have any clue on this year’s drafees? Do not worry, we have so many great fans here that know enough about this year’s prospects who can fill you in with good information.

Here are three articles sent in various members, regarding the Entry Draft. Please, do post a question on here if you need some feedback on a certain prospect that interests you. Or, comment on what your team, and/or others as well, needs to pick in this year’s draft. A mock draft has been published by CNN-Sports Illustrated, which should give you a good idea on some prospects. And, there is a pretty interesting draft article sent it, the kind that will make some fans look up information. SI.com’s 2003 Mock Draft

by great_one98

“Impressive draft class should yield help for many teams.”

(Florida) 1 C Eric Staal Peterborough (OHL) 6’3″ 182 10/29/84

With Olli Jokinen, Matt Cullen and Stephen Weiss, the Panthers are deep up the middle for the next half-decade, but Staal projects to be a better all-around player, and eventually could force Jokinen to the wing on the top line.

Less than a month after Patrick Roy ended his career, the next great Quebec netminder officially will begin his. The ‘Canes, Penguins and Kings are all interested in Fleury, the star of the 2003 World Junior Championships, but don’t expect Carolina to deal down unless Los Angeles is willing to give up all three of its first-round picks and a player off its roster.

The Penguins would love to trade up to make sure they can get Fleury, but their minor league cupboard is bare, so they don’t have a lot to deal. If they can’t swing something to grab Fleury, the consolation prize of getting Zherdev at No. 3 isn’t so shabby. Until a disappointing showing at the World Juniors, Zherdev was the odds-on favorite to go first overall.

(Columbus) 4 D Ryan Suter U.S. U-18 team 6’1″ 183 1/21/85

Suter’s father, Bob, played on the 1980 U.S. Miracle on Ice team, and uncle Gary totaled 845 points and 1,327 penalty minutes in 1,145 career NHL games. The Jackets would have a great blueline tandem for the future if they added Suter to continually emerging Rostislav Klesla.

(Buffalo) 5 C Nathan Horton Oshawa (OHL) 6’2″ 201 5/29/85

The Sabres have plenty of skill with Maxim Afinogenov, Daniel Briere, Tim Connolly, J.P. Dumont and Ales Kotalik, but they need to add some crash to their flash. With the balance at the top of this draft, Horton could emerge as the best all-around player of the bunch.

(San Jose) 6 LW Milan Michalek Budejovice (Czech) 6’2″ 205 12/7/84

The Sharks have dealt away a good portion of their once-deep roster and now appear to be wholeheartedly in a rebuilding mode. But with skilled two-way players like Michalek, it shouldn’t take long to get back to the postseason. Like Horton, Michalek could end up being the best player among the Super Six who have distinguished themselves from the pack.

(Nashville) 7 LW Thomas Vanek Minnesota (WCHA) 6’2″ 208 1/19/84

The Golden Gophers won their second straight NCAA title largely because Vanek carried the team on his back during the tournament. He finished his impressive freshman season with 62 points in 45 games, and his draft stock soared as a result of his incredible postseason.

(Atlanta) 8 D Braydon Coburn Portland (WHL) 6’5″ 205 2/27/85

Coburn has been compared favorably to Chris Pronger, which should get Thrashers fans’ hearts racing with hope. While Pasi Nurminen and Byron Dafoe will keep the crease warm for another year, Coburn and Kari Lehtonen should begin their long-term tenure in Atlanta together in 2004-05.

(Calgary) 9 D Dion Phaneuf Red Deer (WHL) 6’2″ 205 4/10/85

Many scouts belive Phaneuf is a better defensive blueliner than either Suter or Coburn, but both are likely to be chosen before Phaneuf based on their more versatile two-way style. Phaneuf has a little bit of Scott Stevens in him — and some Bryan Marchment nastiness, too — though Phaneuf’s shot from the point may be even better than that of the Devils’ captain.

(Montreal) 10 C Zach Parise North Dakota (WCHA) 5’11” 186 7/28/84

Though Vanek stole the headlines with his impressive run at the end of the year, Parise was the best freshman for the first half of the season. The son of 14-year NHLer J.P. Parise has incredible hockey sense and great skills with the puck. He has answered questions about his size and looks to be a top-notch scoring prospect with first-line potential.

(Philly) 11 RW Dustin Brown Guelph (OHL) 6’0″ 195 11/4/84

On a deep team like the Flyers, Brown might not project to be more than a third-line winger, but he has the talent to be a superb character forward. Brown mixes it up enough that he could emerge as a favorite if he reaches the NHL while Ken Hitchcock and Bobby Clarke are still running the organization.

(NYR)12 C Patrick O’Sullivan Mississauga (OHL) 5’11” 190 2/1/85

O’Sullivan is the mystery man of the first round. On talent alone, he might be alongside the premier sextet at the top of the round. But character issues have some teams concerned after he was sent home for a month by his junior team to resolve off-ice issues.

(LA) 13 RW Andrei Kastsitsyn Central Army (Russia) 6’0″ 189 2/3/85

Kastsitsyn made his debut in the top Russian league this season and didn’t look out of place. He was the dominant player on Belarus’ overmatched squad at the World Juniors, but his stock may slip because some teams are worried about the fact he suffers from epilepsy. Without the medical concerns, he may have been a top-10 pick.

Blackhawks general manager Mike Smith must have some Russian blood in his lineage with how often he drafts selects Russian players with his first-round pick. Glazachev lacks the fifth gear that most Russian stars have, but his willingness play physically in the offensive zone gives him a different offensive dimension than a player like Zherdev.

(NYI) 15 C Marc-Antoine Pouliot Rimouski (QJMHL) 6’1″ 188 5/22/85

Like most players who come out of the Q, Pouliot can skate and play with the puck. Unlike most from what is regarded as a soft league, he can also mix it up. Pouliot would do well in the Islanders organization, where defense is valued as much as offense, and his game would likely advance quickly since he could watch and learn from Michael Peca.

(Boston) 16 RW Anthony Stewart Kingston (OHL) 6’1″ 239 1/5/85

Stewart bulked up late in his junior career and his skating suffered as a result. His size makes him tough to knock off the puck, which is something the smallish Bruins lack outside of Mike Knuble and Glen Murray.

(Edmonton) 17 RW Hugh Jessiman Dartmouth (ECAC) 6’4″ 200 3/28/84

Jessiman came onto scouts’ radar screens with a surprising freshman season at Dartmouth, where he put up 47 points in 34 games. His skating ability and hands are impressive for a player of his size, and he could eventually pair up with Brad Isbister to give the Oilers a massive winger tandem on one of their top two lines.

(Washington) 18 LW Jeff Tambellini Michigan (CCHA) 5’11” 186 4/13/84

Tambellini is the son of Canucks VP of player personnel Steve Tambellini, and his game already features NHL savvy. His style is reminiscent of another undersized, but speedy former Michigan Wolverine, John Madden. Tambellini was impressive in the second half of the season, helping to lead Michigan to its third straight Frozen Four appearance.

(Anaheim) 19 C Ryan Getzlaf Calgary (WHL) 6’2 1/2″ 195 5/10/85

The Ducks have proven that character guys can take you a long way. And Getzlaf would be a perfect addition to their organization’s depth chart. With top prospects Joffrey Lupul, Chris Kunitz and Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau vying for first- and second-line duties, two-way players like Getzlaf are just as valuable to a team’s penalty-killing unit and checking lines.

(Minnesota) 20 LW Robert Nilsson Leksand (Sweden) 5’11” 183 1/10/85

The Wild have plenty of offensive talent in their system, but if the son of former Flames great Kent Nilsson is still around when they pick, he would be hard to pass up. Nilsson put up 21 points in 41 games in the Swedish Elite League this season playing mostly as a 17-year-old, breaking Markus Naslund’s mark of 19 set in 1990-91.

(San Jose) 21 C Ryan Kesler Ohio State (CCHA) 6’1 1/2″ 195 8/31/84

Kesler had a so-so season with the Buckeyes, but he was a pleasant surprise playing for the U.S. at the World Juniors. The Sharks are fond of solid two-way players, and Kesler would be a worthy successor to Mike Ricci as San Jose’s top pest.

The Devils never have lacked physical blueliners, and Seabrook could be an impressive two-way player with another year or two of seasoning. Much like Barret Jackman emerged while playing with Al MacInnis this season, Seabrook would benefit greatly from playing alongside Scott Stevens before the end of his great career.

(Vancouver) 23 C Jeff Carter Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) 6’3″ 182 1/1/85

Carter reminds some scouts of a skinnier version of former Greyhound Joe Thornton, but he needs to fill out his body and get more physical to live up to that lofty comparison. Carter is nimble on his feet and impressive handling the puck, but he needs to add a bit of toughness to his overall games.

(Philly)24 C Dan Fritsche Sarnia (OHL) 6’1″ 198 7/13/85

The Flyers have incredible depth at center, but Jeremy Roenick and Keith Primeau are both 31 or older, so their replacements need to be selected soon. Fritsche would make a nice addition to Philadelphia’s second line some day, thanks to his good puck-carrying skills and natural instincts.

(Tampa Bay) 25 D Richard Stehlik Sherbrooke (QJHML) 6’4″ 245 7/22/84

Wow, seems kind of weird to see the Lightning drafting this late, huh? That’s what a division title will get you. Tampa Bay almost certainly will select a defenseman, given that its trade deadline moves included desperate swaps for Marc Bergevin and Janne Laukkanen in an attempt to add depth on the blueline.

(LA) 26 G Jim Howard Maine (Hockey East) 6’0′ 218 3/26/84

With three first-round picks, the Kings are candidates to try to trade up and get Fleury. But it might make more sense for them to stay put and add three players who are likely to contribute in the future. Howard went 14-6 with a 2.45 GAA and a .916 save percentage as a freshman at Maine, and is the clear No. 2 netminder behind Fleury.

(St.Louis) 27 D Shawn Belle Tri-City (WHL) 6’1′ 220 1/3/85

The Blues are big fans of big, rugged defensemen, so Belle would fit in well in St. Louis. He is a great skater, but his cannon of a slap shot from the point may be his most NHL-ready attribute. The Blues have good depth in the blueline down through their system, but Belle’s offensive awareness and puck-carrying ability should land him in the NHL within three years.

(LA) 28 D Mark Stuart Colorado College (WCHA) 6’1″ 209 4/27/84

The Kings hold this pick after dealing Mathieu Schneider to the Red Wings at the deadline, and odds are they will opt for a blueliner to add to their deep defensive corps in the minors. Stuart is a fitness freak whose game is close to NHL-ready, but he is unspectacular and probably doesn’t project to be more than a No. 4 defensemen.

(Dallas) 29 RW Eric Fehr Brandon (WHL) 6’3′ 187 9/7/85

The Stars are loaded with right wingers, but most of their top forward prospects play on the left side. Fehr is a gritty, but skinny winger who could be an excellent defensive asset once his frame fills out. He may not ever be a 20-goal scorer in the NHL, but he could have a long, steady career on the third line of a good team like Dallas.

(Ottawa) 30 RW Steve Bernier Moncton (QMJHL) 6’2 1/2′ 233 3/31/85

Unless he can play the left side, Steve Bernier might not be too excited about getting chosen by the Sens. With Daniel Alfredsson, Marian Hossa and Martin Havlat already on the right wing, Ottawa has other needs to address. But Bernier’s 101 points in 71 games could be too good to pass up late in the first round.

Best/Worst Draft Choices by the 30 nhl teams

by great_one98

“This will only include the players who were drafted from the 90’s onwards. Part 1 of 3, Anaheim to Colorado.

Let’s Start off, and let’s not call me a moron for not getting the right team and stuff, i’m using nhl.com’s draft list. And this is taking a long time.

Anaheim Mighty Ducks

Best Choice: Paul Kariya

Drafted: 1993(4th Overall)

Kariya is one of the best nhlers today, and is Anaheim’s best player. Has 669 points in 606 games.

Worst Choice: Mikael holmqvist

Drafted: 1997(18th Overall)

Didn’t play much, don’t know much about him but he is retired and not playing in the nhl.

Atlanta Thrashers

Best Choice: Dany Heatley

Drafted: 2000(2nd Overall)

The other player in the dynamic duo, scored 4 goals in the 2003 All-Star game. Racked up a career high 41 goals this past season.

Worst Choice: Patrik Stefan

Drafted:1999(1st Overall)

Hasn’t lived up to his potential yet. They could’ve had Barret Jackman instead. But 1999 was a very weak draft year.

Boston Bruins

Best Choice: Joe Thorton

Drafted: 1997(1st Overall)

Is one of the best power forwards in the game today. Had first 100 point season finishing third in the scoring race.

Worst Choice: Dmitri Kvartalonov

Drafted: 1992(16th Overall)

Did nothing magnificent. Waste of a pick here. But Boston have been successful at most draft years.

Buffalo Sabres:

Best Choice: Keith Tkachuk

Drafted: 1990(19th Overall)

Playing great in St.Louis, I’m not sure if he ever did play a game with Buffalo though. Was traded to Pheonix in 1991. Has had 11 20 goal seasons.

Worst Choice: David Cooper

Drafted: 1992(12th Overall)

I don’t know anything about him, so i won’t bother commenting.

Calgary Flames

Best Choice: Martin Broduer

Drafted: 1990(20th Overall)

Is one of the nhl’s best goalies ever. Never did end up playing in Calgary, sort of like Gigure. Weird, isn’t it? Both in the finals and all.

Wrost Choice: Niklas Sundbland

Drafted: 1991:(19th Overall)

Don’t know anything at all about him. Comment if you happen to actually know anything.

Carolina Hurricanes:

Best Choice: Sergei Samsonov

Drafted: 1997(8th Overall)

Injured last year, had 75 points in last full 82 game season. But wasn’t with Carolina at that point.

Worst Choice: Jeff Heerema

Drafted: 1998(11th Overall)

No comment once again. Comment if you know anything.

Chicago BlackHawks:

Best Choice: Dean Mccamond

Drafted: 1991(22nd Overall)

Not that good of a player, only getting points because of iggy and conroy. Pretty bad draft years by the hawks.

Worst Choice: Steve McCarthy

Drafted: 1999(23nd Overall)

Some guy.

Colorado Avalanche:

Best Choice: Marc Denis

Drafted: 1995(25th Overall)

Close Second is Alex Tanguay. Denis has loads of potential, is a workhorse for the Columbus Blue Jackets and played 77 games last year.

Worst Choice: Mihail Kuleshuv

Drafted: 1999(25th)

Havlat was 26th.

Part 2 will be coming soon. There’s bound to be mistakes in this one. I’ll let you figure them out.

Draft Day Discussion

by rrudd

“

1. Who’s on your wish list?

2. Who do you think will be an immediate impact player?

3. Who’s a draft day sleeper?

4. Do my Stars have a shot at RW Steve Bernier (ranked #19 by TSN) dropping down to them? The Stars greatest weakness in the farm system is big, scoring wingers. 6’3, 233 lbs., 101 points sounds like he’d fit the bill nicely.